Towards a cross-sectoral analysis of land use decision-making in Scotland

This paper presents a cross-sectoral analysis of land use decision-making, undertaken to provide an evidence base for government policy development. Key informant interviews and a quantitative survey were conducted with land managers across Scotland. Analysis of current attitudes towards and priorities for land use was undertaken with private, public and charitable land managers from the farming, forestry, crofting, horticulture and non-commercial land use sectors. Five idealised types were identified: ecological land stewards, economic land stewards, multi-functionalists, community stewards and ‘other’. Consistent attitudinal groups were found across land use sectors, and across Scotland's four geographic regions, suggesting that whereas attitudes and priorities are heterogeneous within specific sectors, similar attitudinal groupings can be identified across these sectors. Findings indicate the particular importance of community and social concern in attitudes and priorities for land use across all sectors. Study findings also demonstrate the professionalisation and formalisation of decision-making processes among large-scale public, private and charitable land managers, in contrast to a perceived lack of access for individual and household-level decision-makers.

Research highlights▶ Consistent attitudinal groups found across land use sectors. ▶ ‘Community stewardship’ represented 39% of respondents. ▶ ‘Multi-functionalists’ represented 48% of land in study. ▶ Perceived lack of information access for small-scale land managers. ▶ ‘Professionalisation’ of decision-making on large-scale enterprises.